Ethan strides inside and stops beside our board. He watches the game with a critical eye. Elsa lost all her pawns and a knight. I kept most of my pawns, but I lost a rook and a bishop.

“Interesting game,” Ethan says. “Too bad someone has to lose.”

My jaw clenches, easily reading the hidden meaning behind the words.

Ethan and Jonathan are at war to snatch a partnership with the Rhodes. In the end, one of them will lose.

When that day comes, neither Elsa nor I will ever be the same.

As soon as I arrive home, I head to the shower.

Nash and I agreed to meet so we can put a stop to the fucker Adam Herran.

Once I’m done with him, he’ll wish he never looked in Elsa’s direction, let alone touch her.

He threatened her life, and for that, his existence will be a payment.

Tit for tat and all that.

He’ll wish he was never fucking born.

Out of the shower, I wrap a towel around my waist and another around my neck.

I stop at the threshold to the bathroom. Jonathan stands in the middle of my bedroom, his hands shoved in his trouser pockets.

He’s watching the walls as if it’s the first time he’s in here. It’s all squeaky clean. A bed, a desk, and a wardrobe. That’s all I need.

I barely spend time in this room anyway, so it doesn’t matter. The Meet Up, however, does. That’s where I would rather be.

“You went to Ethan’s house,” he says. It’s not a question which means he’s still watching me.

Shocker.

“I did,” I say, just to be a dick.

Using the towel around my neck, I dry my hair. The black strands fall in front of my eyes, partially obscuring my view of Jonathan.

“What did he say?” he asks.

“Nothing important.”

He narrows his eyes but doesn’t press the issue. “Keep your head in the game.”

Sure thing, Dad.

Only, well, he never earned the right to be called the ‘D’ word. Other than dick.

“Jonathan?”

He stops but doesn’t turn around. “Yes?”

“I’m breaking off my engagement to Queens.”

He slowly faces me, his body rigid. “That nonsense is off the table.”

“I’m not asking for your permission. I’m informing you that my engagement with Queens is off. Effective immediately.”

“Are you choosing to side with Ethan?”

“This has nothing to do with that.”

“It has everything to do with that. Sebastian is our ally and a member of the Rhodes’ vote committee. He won’t vote in our favour if you dump his daughter.”

“Then find other allies. Sebastian Queens isn’t the only member of the Rhodes’ voting committee.”

He squints one eye at me. “It’s because of that Steel girl. I knew she was rotting your mind.”

“She’s mine, Jonathan. Mine.” I throw the hair towel away and walk to stand toe to toe with him. “Once you accept that fact, I’ll accept to be your heir. Until then, you’re my enemy.”

He stares at me for a beat. It’s not intimidation, more like contemplation.

I don’t know what he fucking expects. Does he think he can reach me now when he’s never made an effort before?

That ship has sailed with Alicia.

“You’re an ungrateful fucking brat.” His jaw clenches.

“I can’t think of a reason why I should be grateful to you.”

“Not to me, but to your mother. You have no respect for her memory.”

“Stop using Alicia in your mind games.”

“Games? Was her death a game? Have you forgotten who caused her accident?” He tilts his head with a manic look in his black-grey eyes. “Have you forgotten how many hours she suffered before she eventually died?”

“Elsa isn’t the reason.”

“Her father is.”

“And so are you.”

He pauses for a second, his jaw ticking. “What did you just say?”

“You heard me,” I speak in my deepest, lowest tone. “You burnt that factory down, knowing Ethan would retaliate by harming your most precious things. But you know what? That’s not why Alicia died. She died because she was trapped in this world when her soul lived elsewhere. All she needed was you and me to root her here. You knew her needs, but you barely spared her your time. Your hunger for power and your ambition came first, and we were an afterthought.”

“I did all of that for you.” He grits out. “I built King Enterprises for our family.”

“Alicia never needed the power or the name, she needed you and you let her down. You killed her slowly, Jonathan. So excuse me if I don’t believe in your useless revenge plot. You should’ve protected her while she was alive.” I brush past him to grab my clothes. “I won’t repeat your mistake.”

Jonathan says nothing. He just turns around and leaves.

The door clicks loud behind him.

Hear that, Alicia? That’s Jonathan finally feeling pain. You should rest in peace now.

I know she won’t. Her sad expression comes to mind. Her pale cheeks and the constant tears in her eyes.

She hated it when Jonathan was stressed or in pain. She loved the loser more than he ever deserved, and he reciprocated too late.

I won’t be my father.

After dressing up, I dial Nash. He picks up after the first ring.

“Are you ready?” I ask.

“Always.”

“Are Knight and Astor there?”

“Knight, yes. Astor is too high to move.”

Of course. And then he bitches about how we always keep him out.

“King?”

“Yes?”

“Let’s leave Adam some hope.”

“Why?”

“I want him to think he’s safe before we destroy him all over again.”

I smirk. I like that idea. “Deal. And Nash?”

“Yes?”

“It’s over with Queens, you petty, little bitch.”

“Fuck you.”

I smile while hanging up.

Time to take care of some overdue business.

21

Elsa

The energy in RES is volatile, to say the least.

It’s been a long time since I walked down the hall and had everyone watch me this closely. Like I’m an animal on display.

Beside me, Teal scrolls through her phone, oblivious to the attention and words said behind our backs.

“It’s because of her.”

“What do you think will happen now?”

“Is she really all that?”

“Shut up or you’ll be next.”

Despite my best attempts not to get caught in the drama, curiosity gets the better of me.

This must be about me, not Teal. Not only is she new, but she also doesn’t speak to anyone.

Kim runs towards me, shooing the students out of her way. She’s panting, her green hair flying in all directions. “Did you… Did you hear what happened?”

I shake my head.

“Adam Herran.” She breathes, a smile breaking across her face. “He’s quitting the rugby team and the school. He’ll enroll in the military academy. Isn’t that brilliant?”